The Cadillac Converj
The Converj is Cadillac's electric car that made it's debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. I still don't like the huge grills that the Cadillacs have, but this is actually a decent looking car overall.
The car is based on Chevy Volt's "Voltec" drivetrain, which will get you 40 miles per charge. That doesn't sound like much, but the car has a back up that will let you drive a lot longer, so you never have to worry about running out of juice. Here's the details from their press release:
The Cadillac Converj's Voltec electric propulsion system is made up of a 16-kWh, T-shaped battery, an electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder engine-generator. It uses electricity as its primary source to drive the car.
A thermally managed battery pack contains more than 220 lithium-ion cells that provide the primary power to drive the Converj electrically up to 40 miles without using fuel or producing tailpipe emissions. The battery is integrated into the Converj's chassis and stores electricity from the grid when the vehicle is plugged in. It takes less than three hours to recharge the battery at 240V, or about eight hours from a 120V outlet.
When the battery's energy is low, the Converj seamlessly switches to extended-range mode. During this secondary level of operation, electricity needed to power the vehicle is created on-board by a flex-fuel-powered engine that operates much like a home generator to create electricity. The engine-generator ensures a constant supply of power for hundreds of miles until the car is refueled or plugged in to recharge the battery. This extended-range mode eliminates the range anxiety that comes with driving pure electric vehicles that offer no backup power when the battery charge is low.
Whether in electric or extended-range mode, the Converj is propelled all the time by an electric drive unit. It converts electrical energy from the battery or the engine-generator into mechanical energy to drive the front wheels. It also delivers 273 lb.-ft. (370 Nm) of instant torque, for a quick launch, and 120 kW of power. The top speed is 100 mph.
You can read more about it and check out some more pictures over at Autoblog HERE.
Posted by Ghostshark under Cars | Comments (0)